CHILD SAFEGUARDING: 

Level 3 - The responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with children or young people and, in the overseas context all posts are level 3 posts in view of potential situations which may allow staff unsupervised access to vulnerable children and young people.

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Safer Partnership Officer will be responsible for working closely with partners to strengthen their capacity on the four pillars of safeguarding and safer programming: prevent, awareness, report, and respond. The primary objective of this role is to ensure that partners have the necessary knowledge, resources, and systems in place to create and maintain safe environments for all program beneficiaries. The Safer Partnership Officer will play a critical role in promoting a culture of safety and accountability within partner organizations. By providing guidance, training, and support, they will help partners strengthen their capacity to prevent harm, raise awareness, respond effectively to incidents, and create safer environments for program beneficiaries. The role of a Safer Partnership Officer is dynamic and multifaceted, requiring a combination of technical expertise, interpersonal skills, and a strong commitment to safeguarding principles. By working closely with partner organizations, the officer will contribute to the development of a robust safeguarding framework that protects the rights and well-being of beneficiaries, staff, and volunteers, and ensures a safe and inclusive environment for all.

key Safeguarding responsibilities:

Partner Engagement:

•  Build strong relationships with partner organizations and establish a collaborative working environment to promote effective safeguarding practices.
• Work closely with partners to understand their specific needs, challenges, and priorities related to safeguarding and safer programming.
• Support the Partner’s Safeguarding focal persons to work closely with internal teams within their organization, such as program managers, monitoring and evaluation staff, and senior leadership to ensure that safeguarding considerations are integrated into program design, implementation, and evaluation. 
• Support the Partner’s Safeguarding focal persons to coordinate with other departments, such as human resources and legal, to ensure alignment and adherence to organizational policies and procedures.

Capacity Building: 

• Assess partner organizations' existing safeguarding frameworks and develop tailored capacity-building plans to enhance their knowledge and skills in the areas of prevent, awareness, report, and respond.
• Develop resources, tools, and training materials to support partner organizations in their safeguarding efforts. These resources may include guidelines, checklists, templates, and case studies that can be tailored to the specific needs of different partners. The officer will ensure that these resources are accessible, user-friendly, and up to date with the latest best practices and industry standards.

Training and Workshops: 

• Design and deliver training sessions and workshops to educate partners on best practices related to safeguarding and safer programming, including prevention strategies, identification of risks and vulnerabilities, reporting mechanisms, and appropriate responses. The officer will ensure that the training is tailored to the specific needs of each partner and is delivered in a participatory and interactive manner.

Risk Assessment and Mitigation:  

• Support the Partner’s Safeguarding focal persons to conduct risk assessments to identify potential safeguarding risks and vulnerabilities within partner organizations.
• Support the Partner’s Safeguarding focal persons to develop risk mitigation strategies and provide guidance to partners on implementing appropriate measures to minimize risks. This may include developing codes of conduct, establishing safe reporting mechanisms, and ensuring that background checks are conducted for staff and volunteers.

Policy and Procedure Development: 

• Support partners in developing and implementing comprehensive safeguarding policies and procedures that align with SCI internal procedures and the international standards and legal requirements. This will involve reviewing and aligning existing policies with SCI Safeguarding policies and procedures and the international standards and legal requirements. 
• Provide guidance on developing reporting mechanisms, escalation processes, and victim support systems. 
• Support partners in implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of these policies and procedures.

Monitoring and Evaluation: 

• Establish monitoring systems to regularly assess partners' progress in implementing safeguarding measures.
• Conduct regular assessments, site visits, and reviews to ensure compliance with policies and identify areas for improvement. 
• Provide ongoing guidance and support to partners, helping them to address any challenges and continuously improve their safeguarding practices.

Incident Response: 

• Work closely with partners to ensure they have effective processes in place for reporting and responding to safeguarding incidents. This includes supporting partners in conducting investigations, providing guidance on victim support, and ensuring that appropriate disciplinary actions are taken when necessary. 
• Assist partners in learning from incidents and implementing preventive measures to minimize future risks.

Documentation and Reporting: 

• Maintain accurate records of all capacity-building activities, training sessions, and safeguarding incidents reported by partner organizations. 
• Prepare monthly reports for the Head of Safeguarding, highlighting progress, challenges, and recommendations for improvement. 
• Ensure that all data and information are handled confidentially and in compliance with data protection regulations.

Ethical Considerations: 

• Uphold the highest ethical standards in their work, ensuring confidentiality, sensitivity, and respect for the rights and dignity of all individuals involved. 
• Promote a culture of transparency and accountability within partner organizations and encourage reporting of safeguarding concerns without fear of reprisal. 
• Adhere to ethical guidelines, organizational codes of conduct, and relevant legal frameworks throughout the interactions with partners and stakeholders.

COMPETENCIES AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Applying Technical and Professional Expertise

• Makes decisions based on professional expertise and experience without deferring unnecessarily to others.
• Shares knowledge and best practice on technical solutions so that others can make best use of that expertise.
• Actively seeks new ways to develop the application of technical and professional standards within the team.

Delivering Results

• Delivers timely and appropriate results using available resources.
• Takes responsibility for their work and its impact on others.
• Plans, priorities and performs tasks well without needing direct supervision.
• Understands the link between their work and the organization’s objectives.

Innovating and Adapting

• Suggests creative improvements and better ways of working.
• Seeks out and applies successful ideas from others to overcome challenges.
• Shifts tasks, roles, and priorities to perform effectively under changing or unclear conditions.
• Applies lessons learned to enhance future ways of working.

Communicating with Impact

• Conveys complex issues with clarity, brevity, and confidence.
• Promotes dialogue with key stakeholders through active listening and effective questioning.
• Adapts communication style to maximize support and engagement.
• Advises others on different approaches to influence key stakeholders.
• Seeks out new methodologies for communication to engage new audiences.

Networking                  

• Actively participates in networks to access and contribute to good practice.
• Gathers and distributes organizational intelligence Maintains and develops a range of contacts and keeps them informed.
• Knows what is needed from contacts and what they need to benefit from the relationship too.

Qualifications/experience required.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., social sciences, international development, human rights).
• Proven experience in working on safeguarding, protection, or related fields.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of safeguarding principles, international standards, and best practices.
• Strong facilitation and training skills, with the ability to deliver engaging and impactful sessions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build effective partnerships and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to assess and analyze complex situations, identify risks and vulnerabilities, and provide appropriate recommendations.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail to ensure accurate documentation and reporting.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency in relevant software applications and technology for data management and reporting.